A Des Moines woman who facilitated a confrontation that led to the January killing of a man was sentenced Thursday to 35 years in prison.

Crystal Raye Purdy, 37, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for first-degree burglary, with a dangerous weapon enhancement, and 10 years for conspiracy to commit a forcible felony. A judge ordered them to run consecutively.

Purdy was part of a group who drove to the city's northwest side the night of Jan. 9 to confront Cory Lee Channon, also of Des Moines, about a gun one of them believed Channon stole from him. Channon was shot and killed by another defendant, police said.

A boy who described Channon as his uncle took the stand Thursday to tell Purdy she knew what would happen that night, but decided to drive the shooter there anyway.

"Over some stupid drama over a gun," the boy said.

The death of Channon, a 39-year-old father, left a hole in his family, another family member said. They miss his bear hugs, his booming voice and his large personality.

"It breaks my heart that Cory's last moments were surrounded by hatred and violence," Jolynn Riedesel said. "Your sentence will never be enough."

Cory Lee Channon, 39, of Des Moines was killed in January 2018, Des Moines police said.(Photo: Special to the Register)

Purdy pleaded guilty to the charges in September after she was initially charged with first-degree murder. As part of her deal with prosecutors, she will testify in the trials of the accused gunman, William Edgar Burton II, 45, and another man — already imprisoned for another offense — who prosecutors plan to charge soon.

The three went to Channon's apartment at 1332 21st St. to confront him about a firearm Burton believed he stole, authorities said. As they drove to Channon's apartment, Burton said something similar to "somebody's going to die tonight," Purdy has said in court.

When she pleaded guilty, Purdy said she dropped Burton and the other man off near Channon's residence. She agreed with the judge when he said she intended to "lure" Channon outside so the men could talk to him about the weapon.

When the men did not show in time, Purdy and Channon walked inside the apartment before Burton arrived. When Burton came in, he told Channon to give him his gun.

As Channon stood up from sitting on a couch, Burton shot him in the chest, authorities said in charging documents. He did not lunge at or threaten Burton, Purdy said in questioning from Assistant Polk County Attorney Michael Salvner.

Channon was pronounced dead at the scene, the city's first homicide of 2018.

Burton and Purdy, who authorities described as dating, fled after the shooting. They then called police about 30 minutes later, something Des Moines police Sgt. Paul Parizek has described as unusual.

The couple met with officers at a Wendy's restaurant about five miles south of the scene and told detectives Channon was shot after a scuffle caused the gun to discharge, Parizek said. Investigators, however, said he was shot intentionally.

Before he sentenced Purdy, Judge Robert Hanson said he would have imposed the 35 years even if the attorneys had not agreed on it. He called on Purdy to reflect on the pain she caused to others, including those "far beyond the one person that lost his life."

"You deserve every bit of time being incarcerated that is available," the judge said. "If and when you ever get out, maybe you will lead a different life."

Asked if she wanted to speak in court, Purdy responded, "No, sir." Hanson also ordered her to pay $150,000 in restitution.

After the sentencing, a woman carrying a baby walked up to Purdy for her to see the child before deputies walked her out of the courtroom. In a court-ordered jumpsuit, she passed some of Channon's family members, who wore shirts showing his face.

No more than 30 minutes earlier, one of them told Purdy while she did not pull the trigger, she was "just as accountable" for Channon's death.

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